New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 celebrates literature and culture

The nine-day book fair has attracted participation from over one thousand publishers representing more than 35 countries. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the fair. The theme of the fair is Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75. The Theme Pavilion is the main attraction, showcasing over five hundred books on military history and hosting more than one hundred theme-based events. A wide range of books in English, Hindi, and other Indian languages is on display, covering subjects such as art and culture, history, cinema, biographies, children’s literature, and national heritage.

A key highlight this year is the Rashtriya ePustakalaya, a digital library offering access to six thousand free eBooks. This initiative blends traditional book browsing with digital innovation, ensuring wider and more inclusive access to literature. The fair also features special programmes including Author’s Connect, Yuva Corner, Child Authors’ Corner, and various cultural activities.

One of the highlights of the exhibition is the focus on children’s writing.

Writing in The Indian Express, Yogendra Yadav, The writer is member, Swaraj India, and national convenor, Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan, said it is an exciting time to be an author, an illustrator, a publisher — and a reader — of literature for children and young adults. 

“You will find all these and hundreds of other innovative books for children of all ages at the ongoing World Book Fair in the national capital. Come to Hall 6, thoughtfully set apart from the rest of the exhibition. Children’s books need their own space, just as children do. You will have to wade through a lot of glitter and many gimmicks, dodge decorated pavilions and big publishers. You don’t want to be distracted by glossy imported stuff, bog-standard English fiction with blond fairies, the same old Panchatantra books and Amar Chitra Katha that you grew up with, boring activity and drawing books, and lots and lots of “educational material” guaranteed to secure the best rank for your child,” he wrote.

He concluded, “From Ektara, walk around the corner to the stall of Eklavya, also from Bhopal. This NGO, which builds on the pathbreaking Hoshangabad Science Teaching Programme, has expanded much beyond its original brief of science education. You still want to look at their books and toolkits for science, besides books on education that teachers and parents can benefit from. For many years, their imprint Pitara has ventured into poetry, fiction and non-fiction for children across age groups. Varun Grover’s Futt-ball is a poignant story of a Ludhiana boy with a Punjabi accent who goes to a Hindi school in Lucknow. You might wish to subscribe to their magazine Chakmak for children or Sandarbh for educators. Pitara has always stood out for expanding the cultural universe of the child to all corners and communities of India.”

Meanwhile, at the Navy Pavilion in Hall No 5, seven volumes of the official history of the Indian Navy (1945–2021) are on display, along with histories of various Indian Naval ships, submarines, air squadrons and establishments, as well as books on India’s maritime history, to enhance visitors’ understanding of the nation’s rich maritime and naval heritage.

These displays present a compelling narrative of India’s maritime journey, blending scholarship with visual appeal.

As part of its academic outreach, NHD conducted a panel discussion on 10 January focusing on the 1971 War, moderated by Cdr Neeraj Vashisth. The panel featured Cdr Vijai Prakash Kapil, VrC, NM (Retd), and noted defence journalist Sandeep Unnithan, providing deep perspectives on a defining chapter of India’s naval history.